Notary Services Glossary beginning with L

The abbreviation of the Latin term Locus Sigilli, which means 'place of seal'. The initials L.S. indicates where the notary seal is to be placed on a notarized document. See also C/S.

The Law Society of British Columbia is the governing society of lawyers in British Columbia.

An individual who is a member in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia.

Documents that need to be notarized in Canada for use abroad must go through a process known as Apostille certification.  This is because Canada is a signatory of the 1961 Hague Apostille convention.  However, other countries that are not members of this Apostille convention must use the older "authentication and legalization" method. Once this is done, the notarized document becomes legal and valid in the foreign jurisdiction. Essentially, the process confirms the registration of the lawyer or notary in their respective governing body, and verifies their signature and seal as "authentic".  Interestingly, the authentication and legalization must still be used in Canada if a document is being sent to another country that is not a member of the Hague Apostille convention.

If a document is headed to a non-Hague Apostille convention countries, Brosgall Legal will first notarize, then authenticate the document at either the BC Ministry of Attorney General in Victoria, or at Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa.  We would then have your international document legalized at the destination country's embassy in Ottawa. We will make sure the correct method is used - either the new Apostille method or the older Authentication and Legalization chain method. To ensure every authentication goes smoothly, Vancouver notary Adam E. Brosgall has registered his signature and seal at both of the aforementioned authentication offices.  

For a more detailed explanation about apostilles, and the authentication and legalization process, please read the article we wrote on this subject. Legalization is also known as 'superlegalization' in some jurisdictions.

A Legation was a term used to denote a diplomatic mission ranking lower than an embassy. Where larger countries would normally maintain embassies, smaller countries would instead maintain Legations. This distinction was, however, abandoned after the World War II. Consulates now serve a similar purpose.

Please see 'Consent To Travel', or for further detail, read the article we wrote on Consent to Travel for Minors.

Some foreigners wishing to visit Canada must produce a letter of invitation as part of the visa process.  This letter is written by, or on behalf, of the Canadian resident who wishes to invite the person visiting Canada.  The information contained in the letter of invitation usually includes the following for both the Canadian resident and visitor: name, date of birth, place of birth, address, phone number, email address, workplace, citizenship status and passport information.  Additional information, including the relationship between the parties, length of visit, and arrival and departure dates, would also be included.  We can prepare the letter of invitation for you, as well as notarize the letter. For further information, please see the article we wrote called Letter of Invitation by Vancouver Notary Public.

The name for a document given to an ambassador by his or her chief of state, and addressed to the chief of state of his or her host country. The letter of credence is then delivered to the latter by the ambassador in a formal credentials ceremony, which generally takes place shortly after his or her arrival at the new post. Until this ceremony has taken place, the diplomat is not formally recognized by the host country, and cannot officially act as an ambassador. The letters are termed "letters of credence" because they request the receiving chief of state to give "full credence" to what the ambassador will say of behalf of their foreign government.

Also presented by a new ambassador, along with his or her letter of credence, to the chief of state of his or her host country during a credential presentation ceremony. It is the official document which formally recalls his or her predecessor.

Latin for 'place of seal'. Often abbreviated as L.S., which indicates where the notary seal should be placed on a notarized document.

A document with notarial wording that is separate from, and attached to, the document being notarized. It is used when no wording is provided on the document, when the provided wording does not comply with requirements, when there is no room for the notary seal on the document, or when a pre-printed certificate has already been used by another notary in the case of multiple signers.  Also known as a notarial certificate.